ABSTRACT
Historically, the female prostitute has been cast as the offender, the deviant, the violator of sexual norms, the transmitter of disease and has consequently become the principle object of regulation. Only when prostitutes are young, overtly coerced, or treated like slaves have they elicited any sympathy as victims. However, over the past decade the perception of the female prostitute has begun to change significantly and she is coming, in the UK at least, to be seen as being more sinned against than sinning. Thus, until fairly recently female prostitutes were subject to a combination of criminal justice and medical interventions which have involved different forms of policing, surveillance, fines, inspection and detention. However, in the current period there is a growing emphasis on providing help and support for those involved in prostitution.
